Business owners hopeful for Kickapoo street future

With construction on Kickapoo Street scheduled to begin in 2013, many are looking at how this will affect businesses along the street.

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By Carmen Bourlon

The Shawnee News-Star

By Carmen Bourlon

Posted Dec. 5, 2012 at 6:00 AM

By Carmen Bourlon

Posted Dec. 5, 2012 at 6:00 AM

SHAWNEE

With construction on Kickapoo Street scheduled to begin in 2013, many are looking at how this will affect businesses along the street.

Marta Land, House of Flowers owner, said she is happy that the bid was approved and that construction will begin.

“I’m thrilled,” Land said.

Land said the city has assured her that the public will have access to her business at all times. And while the construction may be hard on businesses, the deterioration of Kickapoo Street over the years has already had an affect on her business, she said.

“Sometimes you have to endure a little pain to get a little gain,” Land said.

She is looking forward to the project being finished and business picking up after that.

“I think it’ll be great,” Land said.

Sonic owner John Winterringer said he expects the project to affect business, but this will be good for businesses on Harrison Street. Most of the lost traffic will go to those businesses, which will be good for them, he said.

He added that he will work to win people back once the project is over.

“When people get into habits of avoiding a street, you almost have to win them back over,” Winterringer said.

He said he is excited for the road to be finished, and expects business will pick back up after construction.

“It’ll come back ten times over,” Winterringer said.

“Progress comes at a great price,” he added. “But think of how great it will be for the future.”

The Kickapoo project will widen the street to four lanes from the Kickapoo spur to MacArthur Street, will replace the water line and add sidewalks.